Pneumatic ammunition-conveying apparatus.



Patented July 27, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 25, I908.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH co., WASHINGTON, D c

.I. T. COWLEY. PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS.

Es SHEETS-SHEET 2.

\\\\\\\\ IIIIIIIIIII APPLICATION FILED FEB- 25| I908.

J. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25. I908.

1,148,078. Patented July 27, 1915.

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in srarns PATENT ric JAMES T. COWLEY, 015 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW J ERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION-CONVEYING APPARATUS.

Application filed February 25, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES T. COWLEY, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic A1nmunition-Conveying Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in pneumatic ammunition conveying apparatus and its object is to provide means for the rapid, safe and eflicient conveying of ammunition from the handling room or the magazine to the guns.

Means are provided for electrically controlling at the gun the despatching and con veying of the ammunition, and said means are operative to prevent the admission of air pressure to drive the load until the load has been inserted at the despatching station and the despatch station closed.

At the gun or receiving station is provided an inclosed receptacle which is adapted to receive and cushion the delivery of the ammunition and which is provided with a suitable cover that maybe opened to remove the charge and which normally prevents the accidental firing of the charge.

An air outlet is provided which permits the escape of air from the tube while a charge is in transit and which automatically closes when the charge has arrived in the receptacle, sealing the system and rendering the same fireproof.

At the despatching station a valve is utilized adapted to be operated from the receiving station to admit air for driving the charge and which is adjusted to automati cally close when sufficient air has been admitted to insure the delivery of the charge.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated a form of construction embodying my invention, in which,Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the system. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the air pressure controlling valve in normal or closed position. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a portion of the receiving receptacle. Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view on line 44 Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectionv of the receiving receptacle. Fig. 6 is a detail side view of the despatching end of the conveyer partly in section. Fig. 7 is a detail plan of the same with the convcyer removed.

Like letters of reference refer to likeparts throughout the several views.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2'7, 1915.

Serial No. 417,772.

The handling room or sending station 1 adjacent the magazine is connected by a pneumatic conveyer 4 with the turret or receiving station 2. The conveyer 4 extends through the well 3 between the turret 2 and the handling room 1 and which well is sealed by a partition 3 at its lower end, the conveyer 4' being provided with a swivel joint 4 which permits of the rotation of the turret. v I i 5 represents a despatching shelf adapted to support the ammunition previous to its insertion into the conveyer it and 3 9 is a pivoted gateonvalve adapted to be operated by the handle 39 to allow the insertion of the charge into the conveyer eland prevent the escape of the air for driving said charge.

9 is a pressure ,reservoir connected with an air compressor by a pipe 10, said rcservoir being connected with the conveyer 4 adjacent valve 39 by a pipe 7 the admission vof the air pressure to said conveyer l being controlled .by the mechanism shown in Fig. 2 which will be hereinafter described.

8 represents a valve casing interposed in the air supply pipe 7 and which carries mounted therein the balanced valve 11 normally held in the position shown in Fig. 2 by means of spring 12, cutting off communication between passages 16 and 17 in pipe 7. The ,valve 11 has a central recess in which is mounted a slide valve 13, the outer end of which acts as the armature or core of solenoid magnet 15.

18 ,is a .port adapted to connect passage 16 through passage 13- and a port 1.9 with chamber 20 to admit air pressure to said chamber 20 when the valve or core 13 is actuated by magnet 15. The valve or core 13 is normally li'eld inposition shown in Fig. 2 by a spring 14, cutting off the admission of air pressure to chamber 20. The magnet 15 is in circuit with a normally open switch located at the receiving station or turret 2 and source of electricsupply :12, through conductors b, a, c, a normally open automatic switch 41 located in the despatching endof the conveyor at and through conductor (Z and a normally closed switch 40, adapted to be operated by valve 39, and conductor 0. The switch 41 comprises a trip pivoted at 42 and normally held projecting into the conveyer 6 by a spring 43. This trip isadapted to be engaged by the ammunition to close contacts 44-49. The switch 40 is pivoted at 46 and carries an arm 17 normally engaging a projection 48 on valve 39 which holdsthe same in a closed position as shown in Figs. 1 and 6.

50 is a spring connected to open said switch when the valve 39 is open.

6 is a receptacle located in the receiving station or turret 2 for receiving the ammunition, and 21 is an airoutlet controlled by the valve 22 pivoted at 23 normally held' closed by the weight 24 when there is no ammunition in transit. The end of the receptacle 6 forms a cylinder or air chamber in which is mounted the piston 35 on red 36; said piston being normally held in dotted position shown in Fig. .1 by spring 37 and collar 36 pinned to saidrod '36 at 36 This forms a-cu'shion for receiving the impact of the charge, the escape of the chamber '34; being regulated by a valve 38.

The bend in the conveyer 4:, by which the movement of the ammunition is turned from vertical to horizontal for delivery 'to the v horizontal 1'6CGlVl,'2tCtS to retard the amgently and without shock.

munition and aids insecuring its delivery This retarding and cushioning of the ammunition, together with-a, closing of the air admission when sufiicient air has been admitted to insure the delivery of the charge, as elsewhere diescribed, assure the proper and safe delivery [its gwvi-th the chamber 20 of the apparatus.

of the ammunition with a rapid operation -The receptacle 6 has an aperture33 for removing'charge, saidaperture being normally closedobya cover 25adapted to be locke'd'closed. Mounted on each side of the cover 25 are segmental hinges 26 and 27* which normally rest "respectively on the hinge rods 26 and 27 which are secured to the opposite sides 'of' receptacle. 6 by suitable fastenings 52. Pivoted at opposite sides of the cover 25 at 29 and 32 are the hand latches 28 and 31 respectively, the lower ends of which complete the hinge and serve also to normally lock the cover 25 closed by action of springs 30.

The operation is as follows: The operator in the handling roomopens the valve 39"by means of the handle 39 and pushes the ammunition P from the shelf 5 into the mouth of the conveyer at and closes said valve 39.

The closing of this valve 39 closes the switch 40 and the ammunition resting on the trip or switch 41 holds said switch closed this com aletin the circuit throu h the ma net b D b 15 with'the exception of the open switch45 in the turret. 2. 'The gunner when ready for the charge closes the switch L5 completing the circuit and energizing the solenoid v magnet 15 which moves the valve or core 13 against the tension of the spring 14iuntil the passage 16 is placed in communication sage 13 and port 19' admitting air pressure through port 18, pas

to said chamber 20 forcing the valve 11 against'the spring 12. until passages 16 and 17 communicate admitting air pressure from o reservoir 9 through the pipe 7 to the conveyer f and driving the charge P through said conveyer to the turret 2. The air in the conveyer ahead of the charge [opens the valve 22 against the action of the weight 24 and is expelled through the outlet 21.

When the charge moves forward from the mouth of the conveyer tube, the switch ll is released andthc circuit to the magnet is thereby opened at that point, deen'ergizing the magnet 15 and allowing the valve 13 to be returned tofits normal position-by the spring 14. \Vhen the pressure in the receiver 9 has diminished sufliciently to permit the spring 12 to restore the valvell to normal position, the valvell is returned to the position shown in Fig. 2, cutting off the supply of air to the conveyer 4;. As previously stated, the valve is adjusted to close when suiiicient air has been admitted to insure the delivery. of the charge, the drop inpressure to that which is necessary to insure the delivery of the charge aiding materiallyin securingthe proper and safe de-V livery of the charge, by avoiding high speed i and shock at the delivery end, which would result if the full driving pressure were maintained throughout the transmission of the charge; 'This delivery of the charge -gently and without shock is aided also'by the bend atthe delivery endof the conveyer, which acts to retard the movement of the charge, and all shock is avoided and the do 7 cover 25. The opposite latch 31 remaining i looked forms a complete hinge permitting] the 'cover25' to be swung open and the charge removed! After the charge is removechthe cover is allowed to close and be locked by the latch 28 thereby preventing the possibility ofifire entering the recepta 'cler It is preferable that'a chargel remain inthe mouthof the conveyer 4 ready 7 but if the. operator in the handlingg room should be in the act of inserting a charge the air couldnot be admitted to the conveyer by'closing the switch l5 in the turret; When the charge has been inserted closing the i switch 41 and the valve 39 entirely shut,

to be transmitted when the gunner desires,

closing the si vitch d the circuit may beig completed by closing the switch 45 and admitting the air pressure to the conveyer for transmitting the charge. If there should be no charge in the mouth of the conveyer, the switch 41 would be open and the switch 45 could not then control the circuit, thereby preventing the exhausting of the pressure in the reservoir.

Having thus described the nature of my invention and set forth a construction embodying the same, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a pneumatic ammunition conveying apparatus, a conveyer, means for permitting ammunition to be inserted into the conveyer, means for supplying air under pressure to the conveyer behind ammunition which has been placed therein, and means located at the delivery end of the conveyer and controlled by the operator at said delivery end for electrically controlling the admission of air to the conveyer at the despatching end thereof for causing the ammunition to be driven to the delivery end thereof.

2. In a pneumatic ammunition conveying apparatus, a normally sealed conveyer nor-- mally under atmospheric pressure, means for permitting ammunition to be inserted into the conveyer, means for supplying air under pressure to the conveyer behind ammunition which has been placed therein, means for controlling the admission of air to the conveyer, a normally sealed receptacle at the delivery end, into which the conveyer opens and which is adapted to receive the ammunition, and normally closed means opened by the transit of ammunition to permit the escape of air from the conveyer and receptacle while the ammunition is in transit.

3. In a pneumatic ammunition conveying apparatus, a conveyer, a despatching station, a receiving station, the receiving station being movable relatively to the despatching station, and means for permitting the delivery end of the conveyer to move relatively to the despatching end as the receiving station is moved relatively to the despatching station.

4.. In a pneumatic ammunition conveying apparatus, a conveyer, an air reservoir of determined capacity connected with the conveyer for supplying air under pressure to the conveyer behind ammunition which has been placed therein, said reservoir containing an initial charge of compressed air insufficient of itself to drive a charge of ammunition through the conveyor to the delivery end but having additional air supplied thereto while said ammunition is in course of transit, means for controlling the passage of air from said reservoir to the conveyer, and means for supplying said additional compressed air to said reservoir,

said last mentioned means being incapable of supplying suflicient air to transmit said ammunition at substantially uniform speed to the point of delivery of said ammunition and said additional air supplying means and reservoir being proportioned to each other and to said conveyer and coacting with said air controlling means to reduce the speed of the ammunition as it approaches delivery by decreasing the effective air pressure during the transmission of said ammunition.

5. In a pneumatic ammunition conveyer, a conveyer, a source of air pressure connected with said conveyer, a despatching station, a receiving station, means for controlling saidsource of air pressure by the operator at said receiving station for conveying ammunition through said conveyer, and means for preventing the admission of air pressure to said conveyer when no anr munition has been inserted into said conveyer for transmission.

6. In a pneumatic ammunition conveyer, a conveyer, a soiiirce'of air pressure connected with said conveyor, a despatching station, a receiving station, means for controlling said source of air pressure by the operator at said receiving station for conveying ammunition through said conveyer, a valve or gate located at said despatching station and adapted to be opened to permit the insertion of ammunition into said conveyer, and means for preventing the admission of air pressure before said valve is closed.

7. In a pneumatic ammunition conve ing apparatus, a conveyer, a dcspatching station, a receiving station, means for supplying air under pressure to the conveyer behind ammunition which has been placed therein, means for controlling from the receiving station the admission of air to the conveyer, a valve or gate at the despatching end of the conveyer adapted to be opened to permit the insertion of ammunition into the conveyer, and means for preventing the admission of air to the conveyer except when said gate is closed and ammunition is in position ready for trans- 'mission.

order to close the circuit, one of said circuit closing devices being operative from the receiving station and another of said circuit closing devices being automatically opened as r a circuit to said electrically operated means,

and aplurality ofcircuit closing devices in saidcircuit, all of which must be closed in order to close llllGCllCLllt, one of said circuit closing devices being operative from the receiving station and another of said circuit closing devices being automatically opened when said gate is opened and closed when said, gate is closed.

10. In a pneumatic ammunition conveying apparatus, a conveyer, a despatching station, a receiving station, means for supplying air under pressure to the conveyer behind ammunition which has been placed therein, electrically operated means for causing air to be admitted to the conveyer, a circuit to said'electrically operated means, a circuit closing devicein said circuit operative from the receiving station, and means for preventing the completing of said "circuit except when ammunition isin position ready for transmission; 7

11. In a pneumatic ammunition convey-- ing apparatus, a normally sealed conveyer normally under atmospheric pressure,a desj patching station, a receiving station, means for supplying air under pressureto the conveyer behind ammunition placed in the eonveyer at the despatching station, and a valve at the receiving station opened automatically by the transit of ammunition to permit the escape of air from the conveyer While the ammunition is in transit and closing automatically to seal the conveyer when the ammunition has been delivered to the receiv 111g station.

l2.iA pneumatic conveying apparatus comprisinga vertical conveyer leading up from the ammunition chamber, a despatch station, a receiving station, an air: supply for driving charges of ammunition through said conveyer, a' bend in the conveyer at the receiving-station for changing the movement of the ammun tion irom vertical to horizon- "tal and acting to retard the movement of from the dos iatchin' station the o eration the ammunition, a substantially horizontal receiver, and means at said receiving sta' tion for causing the despatch of ammunition of said means being controlled by;the posinon of parts at the despatching station.

13. In a pneumatic ammunition convey ing apparatus, a conveyer, a despatching has been received.

ing apparatus, a conveyer, a "despatching .ifor driving ammunition through 7 .veyer,'electr1cal devices for causing the des station, a receiving station, an air supply for driving ammunition through the conveyer, air controlling devices at the des patching station, controlled by the operator at the receiving station and means forpreventing the admission of air untila charge of ammunition has been inserted in the con veyer. p

14. In a pneumatic ammunition conveying apparatus, a conveyer, a despatching station, a receiving station, an air supply for driving ammunition through the con-' veyer, air controlling devices at the des-' patching station, controlled by the operator tor at the receiving station and means for preventing the admission of air until a charge of ammunition has been inserted in the conveyer and the despatc'hing station closed. 5

15. In a pneumaticammunition conveying apparatus, a conveyer, a despatching" station, a receiving station, an air supply for driving ammunition through the conveyer, a receiver'for the ammunition at the re-' ceiving station, and devices at the receiving station for causing the despatch of ammunition from the despatching stati'on to said ;recei-ving station, the operationof' said devices being controlled by theposition of 7 at the despatching station, a normally sealed receptacle atthe receiving station normally under atmospheric pressure and to Which II the conveyer delivers, and a valve in the re" ceptacle openingautomatically to permit the escape of air from the receptacle ahead or the ammunition and closing automatically to seal the receptacle When the ammunition veyer, and electrical devices for causing the Q 7 .despatch of ammunition by the operator at the receiving station. r V p 7 p 18. In a' pneumatlc ammunition convey;

station, a receiving station, an air supply I the conpatch of ammunition by-the operator atthe receiving station, and circuit con'nections' at 7 V the receiving station and at-the despatching station, both of Which must be in proper position for the despatch of ammunition. V 7 19. In a. pneumatic ammunition convey ing apparatus, a" conveyer, a despatching statioma receiving station, an air" supply 1 1 01 driving ammunition through the coi1- 99' veyer, electrical devices for causing the despatch of ammunition by the operator at the receiving station, and circuit connections at the despatching station preventing the cespatch of ammunition when the despatching station is open.

20. In a pneumatic ammunition conveying apparatus, a conveyer, a despatching station, a receiving station, an air supply for driving ammunition through said conveyer, a main air admission valve, an auxiliary valve at the despatching station controlling said main admission valve, and means for controlling said auxiliary valve from the receiving station to operate the main valve.

21. In a pneumatic ammunition conveying apparatus, a despatching station, a receiving station, a transmission tube extending between said stations, a source of fluid supply for driving ammunition through the transmission tube from the despatching station to the receiving station, and a connection permitting the receiving station and delivery end of the tube to rotate Without disconnecting the transmitting tube.

22. In a pneumatic ammunition conveying apparatus, a despatching station, a receiving station, a transmission tube extending between said stations, a source of fluid supply for driving ammunition through the transmission tube from the despatching station to the receiving station, and a connection between the delivery end of the trans mission tube and the despatching station permitting the delivery end to move With the receiving station relatively to the despatching station.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this twenty fourth day of February A. D. 1908.

JAMES T. COWLEY.

WVitnesses:

DELIA S. PETERSON, RALPH S. CLARKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G, 

